Archive | Camping

Yes, another product review! I’ve been a bit overwhelmed with the amazing products being sent to me lately looking for honest people to review their products. They say good things come in bundles, right? Well, I’ve been receiving bundles of good things.

Sandalwood Camping Lantern

One of those good things is a cool little battery powered lantern, the Sandalwood LED Camping Lantern. As you can see by the image posted with this article, it’s a very compact lantern, unlike some of the gas powered lanterns you’re used to packing with you. Aside from the LED bulb, it’s constructed with plastic and rubber parts, making it extremely durable and water resistant.

This cool little prepper item has three light modes, high, low and flashing. It comes with a hook on the top and the bottom. You can unscrew the top and hang it upside down for more light exposure. It takes three size D batteries and so far has yet to run low.

I’ve had the opportunity to review some decent products lately, but so far, this one has exceeded in it’s class…but you’ll have to see for yourself by getting your own.

The Survival Shovel

So let’s take a look at this survival shovel. I’m telling you right now….it’s quality.

Many other survival shovels sacrifice durability and quality for convenience and price. They’ll use plastic parts instead of metal, which always end up breaking. The only plastic you’ll find on this survival shovel is in the washer between the head of the shovel and the handle.

It adjusts into three different positions. The first position, straight out, is for digging, sawing and using the blade side of the shovel head. The second position is with the head at a ninety degree angle and most likely used for a hoe, or pick. The third position is angled down and away from the handle and could be used for climbing or or easier storage.

I used it, and I like it!

I took the shovel out for a spin, at night. I wanted to test it out on a dead apricot tree I had out towards the back of my property. My target of choice for the axe was a branch around two to three inches in diameter. With a mediocre swing, I nearly chopped half way through the limb. You’ll have to watch the video to see what happened on my second attempt. Totally unexpected.

After hacking away at the tree, I took it into the front yard from some good ole night time digging. I’ve been replacing some sprinkler lines and put the survival shovel and hoe into action. Due to the length of the shovel, it’s not something you want to use for a full day of work, but it can get the job done. And when switched to the hoe/pick position, it works exactly like it should.

In conclusion, I was impressed. It’s a quality built survival shovel will last me for a very long time. Great addition for your camping, hunting or prepping gear!

After just publishing my review on SportsTek’s survival shovel, and as you see in the video I recorded, I also received their LED Headlamp in exchange for some honest feedback.

For the longest time I saw headlamps as something dorks used to read with, but things have come a long way since then. Up until a few weeks ago I had yet to use a headlamp. With all the camping, hunting and outside work I perform after the hours of daylight, I still didn’t see the need for a headlamp. In my mind, a flashlight or my phone worked just fine for what I needed to do.

Man was I wrong. There’s nothing like a beam of light focused exactly where I’m looking. We’ve all done the “propping” of the flashlight thing, trying to wedge it just right so that it’ll shine where you need it to…only to have it slip and fall when you’re in the middle of the task at hand.

The LED Headlamp from SportsTek

So let’s talk about the quality of the LED Headlamp SportsTek sent me. My impression after weeks of use is five stars. It’s comfortable, bright enough to do almost anything during the night hours and from what I have seen so far, the batteries seem to last a good while.

Features

The LED Headlamp has three settings for the light: Flashing, High and Low. It comes equipped with a scoping lens used to adjust the focus of the light beam. It also comes with a separate attachment used for bike handles.

In conclusion, it’s a nice product. I was actually using it the other night for some outdoor plumbing, and while walking through the house, my mother-in-law sort of giggled at me. She probably wasn’t expecting to see me mounted with a headlamp, but until you find yourself in pitch black, leaning over a hole in the ground and trying to use the light of a flashlight, you’ll be wishing you had a headlamp.

In exchange for an honest review, I received this little Mini Folding Pick Shovel…and to be honest, when I received the package, it was tiny! I was wondering how this little thing could be useful with as small and light as it was, but I guess that’s the point, right?!

You have to know where I’m coming from though. I’m used to the big, bulky, clanky, military issued survival shovels. With it connected to your belt, those things can pull a mans pants down with as heavy as they are. However, I know from experience that you can dig a 6 ft deep foxhole with one. So they’re durable, to say the least.

However, for you doomsday preppers, campers and emergency preparedness people, this is an item you might as well add to your list. It’s small enough, smaller than my hand (when in it’s case), and light enough to add to any bug out bag or 72 hour kit. For some basic use, it’s also a very diverse tool. With the mini shovel having a pick on one end and a shovel on the other, it’s very handy when digging a small trench, working in the garden or even prospecting.

The mini shovel comes in two separate pieces. To assemble, all that is required is to screw the handle into the pick shovel end and you’re good to go. It comes equipped with a little compass embedded in the end of the handle grip. It’s not the greatest compass in the world, but hey, when you’re lost, a compass is a compass, and this one will do the trick.

The only thing I’d change on this folding shovel is the plastic coupling used to tighten the pick and/or shovel into place. I’d rather see it built out of the same metal as the rest of the shovel.

As a side note, some may agree while others won’t, but I feel it is important to teach your kids survival tactics and skills, such as how to protect themselves in dangerous situations. Whether for sport or survival, check out fightingreport.com.